Timing recovery for data sampling of a detector

ABSTRACT

A partial response Class  4  detector in a recording and retrieval system and method of operating the detector for correcting the timing error of the detector. The detector includes a sequence table and comparison circuitry for comparing a sequence of data samples that includes previous and subsequent data samples with allowed sequences determined from the sequence table. When the sequence is an allowed sequence then there is high likelihood that data sample is correct, and the timing error for the data sample is determined in the phase error estimator and is corrected for. Otherwise, no correction is made for the timing error. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the coordinates of the sequence table correspond to the data samples, and the slope of the data stream at the data sample is stored in the sequence table. This reduces the size and increases the speed of the phase error estimator since the slope is now provided to it from the sequence table and it does not need determine the slope.

This is a divisional of the prior application Ser. No. 08/995,512, filed Dec. 22. 1997 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,324,225, the benefit of the filing dates of which are hereby claimed under 35 USC 120.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to improvements in a detector for data sampling, and is more specifically related to the timing recovery of a detector during data sampling.

BACKGROUND

Increasing density of data transmitted or stored reduces the cost of transmitting and storing the data and the time it takes to transmit and store data. Therefore, it has been a long term goal of the electronics industry to increase the density of data transmitted or stored. Many systems use run-length limited (RLL) coding and peak detection (PD) to achieve high reliability and high densities. A further increase in density can be achieved using more advanced techniques such as partial response (PR) signaling and maximum-likelihood (ML) sequence detectors such as Viterbi detectors, or a combination of the two.

Partial response (PR) signaling is a technique that enforces spectral properties and allows a controlled amount of intersymbol interference. ML sequence estimation, and particularly the Viterbi algorithm, improves the detection of symbol sequences in the presence of intersymbol interference. ML sequence estimation allows most PR schemes to perform practically in a system with errors caused by intersymbol interference.

PR signaling also allows a better handling of intersymbol interference and a more efficient utilization of the bandwidth of a given channel. Because the intersymbol interference is known to be present, the receiver can take it into account. PR signaling in communications allows transmissions at the Nyquist rate, and provides a favorable trade-off between error probability and the available spectrum. The PR systems described by the polynomials 1+D, 1−D, and 1−D² are called duobinary, dicode, and class-IV, respectively, where D represents one bit cell delay and D² represents 2 bit cell delays. D=e^(−jωt), where ω is a frequency variable in radians per second and t is the sampling time interval in seconds. The PR4 magnitude response, 1−D², emphasizes midband frequencies and results in a read channel with increased immunity to noise and distortion at both low and high frequencies.

Conventional disc drives are used to record and to retrieve information. As discs become more prevalent as the medium of choice for storing information in both computer and home entertainment equipment, disc drives likewise become more prevalent and important components of such electronic systems. PR and ML have been employed in communications signaling for many years, and have now been applied commercially within magnetic hard disk drives. PR4 is presently a preferred partial response system in disc drives, since there is a close correlation between the idealized PR4 spectrum, and the natural characteristics of a magnetic data write/read channel. Application of the Viterbi algorithm to PR4 data streams within a magnetic recording channel is known to improve detection of original symbol sequences in the presence of intersymbol interference and also to improve signal to noise ratio over comparable peak detection techniques.

EPR4 and EEPR4 are higher order PR detection schemes that further increase the density of data that can be stored and transmitted.

FIG. 1 shows a portion of a conventional detector 10, the detector 10 can be a PR4, EPR4, or an EEPR4 detector. The detector 10 has a slicer 20 that samples a data stream to obtain data samples x′(T).

The output of the slicer 20 is also connected to a phase error estimator 22, typically through an equalizer (not shown). The phase error estimator 22 is coupled to a D to A converter 24 whose output is provided to an oscillator 26, which generates the clock, clk(T), that clocks the slicer 20 to control the data sample rate. Each data sample x′(T) is passed to the phase error estimator 22 that determines the timing error for the sample x′(T) and outputs a signal that adjusts the clock frequency of the oscillator 26.

The output of the slicer 20 is also connected to a Viterbi detector. The slicer 20 outputs a sequence of data samples, which are input to the Viterbi detector 28 for analysis and detection to aid in obtaining the decoded data. The output of the Viterbi detector 28 provides the data stream to the system for further detection and analysis.

A problem with PR detectors 10 is that as the density increases or as the complexity of the detector increases the same amount of noise that was previously acceptable can cause false detection of the sample. A false detection can lead to a timing error that will cause the oscillator to adjust the clock frequency to an incorrect frequency. Clocking the slicer 20 at a frequency that does not match the data rate will cause the slicer 20 to sample the next data sample at the wrong time, which will lead to an incorrect data value and to an incorrect timing error for the next data sample, leading to the data value after that being sampled at the wrong time, and so on.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A detector for receiving data in accordance with the present invention includes a slicer, a sequence table of allowed sequences, and comparison circuitry. The slicer has an input terminal coupled to a read channel and an output terminal coupled to the first input terminal of the comparison circuitry. The sequence table has an output terminal coupled to the second input terminal of the comparison circuitry. The output terminal of the comparison circuitry is coupled to an input terminal of a phase error estimator.

In accordance with the method of operation of the circuit of the present invention, a data sample, a predetermined number of previous data samples and a predetermined number of subsequent data samples are obtained. Some of the data samples are used to form a sequence. The sequence is compared with the values in the sequence table to determine if it is an allowed sequence. If the sequence is an allowed sequence, the timing error of the detector is corrected based on the timing error of the data sample.

The novel features believed characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The nature of the invention, however, as well as its features and advantages, may be understood more fully upon consideration of illustrative embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portion of a conventional detector.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a portion of a detector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of one example of the comparison circuitry including the override circuitry.

FIG. 4 illustrates the timing correction vs. the phase error.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of disc drive having a detector according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Appendix A is a program in Matlab for generating a sequence table for an EPR4 detector.

Appendix B shows all sequences that can occur in an EPR4 detection scheme.

Appendix C shows the values of the sequence table for an EPR4 detector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 2, a portion of a detector according to an embodiment of the invention is designated generally by reference numeral 100. The detector 100 is typically included in a recording and retrieval system, such as a disc drive 110, shown in FIG. 5. Parts common to FIGS. 1 through 5 are indicated using the same numbering system.

Referring to FIG. 2, the detector 100 can be any acceptable type of detector, such as a PR4, EPR4, or an EEPR4 detector. The detector includes a slicer 20 that samples a data stream to obtain data samples x′(T). The input of the slicer 20 is coupled to an output of a read channel 28 that reads the data stream from a storage device, such as a disc. The output of the slicer 22 is connected to a Viterbi detector 28. The slicer 20 outputs a sequence of data samples x′(T), which are input to the Viterbi detector 28 for analysis and detection to aid in obtaining the decoded data. The output of the Viterbi detector 28 provides the data stream to the system for further detection and analysis.

The output of the slicer 20 is also connected to a first input of comparison circuitry 30 typically through an equalizer (not shown). A sequence table 32 is connected to a second input of the comparison circuitry 30. The output of the comparison circuitry 30 is connected to a phase error estimator 23, which is coupled to a D to A converter 24, whose output is provided to an oscillator 26. The oscillator 26 generates the clock, clk(T), that clocks the slicer 20. For each data sample x′(T) the phase error estimator 23 determines the timing error for the data sample x′(T) and adjusts the clock frequency of the oscillator 26 through the D to A converter 24. The D to A converter 24 converts the output of the phase error estimator 23 to an analog signal to control the clock frequency of the oscillator 26.

The sequence table 32 can be any sequence table that allows the comparison circuitry to determine whether a sequence of data samples is an allowed sequence for the particular coding used for that storage system. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the sequence table 32 is an N× . . . ×N matrix, where N is the number of all possible values of one data sample x′(T). The number of dimensions of the sequence table is equal to the number of samples in a sequence, for example for a 3 sample sequence the sequence table 32 is an N×N×N matrix. The coordinates of the sequence table 32 correspond to the sequences of data samples to be received. In one embodiment of the invention all sequences that can occur in the detection scheme are allowed sequences, in other embodiments of the inventions only some of the sequences that can occur in the detection scheme are allowed sequences. The sequence table 32 contains sample information at the coordinates corresponding to an allowed sequence. The sequence table 32 contains flags at all of the other locations. The sample information can be just a signal indicating that the sequence is an allowed sequence or can be information that can be used in the correction of the timing error. In one embodiment of the invention, the sample information is the slope of the data stream around the data sample.

The comparison circuitry contains a memory for storing the data samples, preferably the memory is a shift register 34. The size of the shift register 34 is selected to be large enough to store a predetermined number of previous data samples, the selected data sample x′(t), and a predetermined number of subsequent data samples that make up a sequence. The number of previous data samples and number of subsequent data samples can be any number that allows the data sequence to be large enough to accurately confirm that the data sample can occur in the detection scheme, yet small enough to not to drastically increase the latency in processing the data samples. The number of previous data samples can be larger or smaller than the number of subsequent data samples. In one embodiment a sequence having 3 data samples, one previous and one subsequent will be used, so a 3 bit shift register 34 is needed. In an alternative embodiment, five data samples are used, requiring a 5 bit shift register. In another alternative embodiment, seven data samples are used, requiring a 7 bit shift register.

The comparison circuitry 30 can be any known circuit for determining whether the value in the sequence table at the coordinates corresponding to the sequence read from the storage medium is a flag. In one example of the comparison circuitry 30, a plurality of comparators is used to compare the value stored in the sequence table 32 to determine if it is a flag or sample information. If the value stored in the sequence table 32 is not a flag, then the value stored in the sequence table 32 is passed to the output of the comparison circuitry.

In PR detection schemes, each bit is encoded using the equations for the particular detection scheme. The equation used in the PR4 detection scheme is (1−D)(1+D), in an EPR4 detection scheme is (1−D)(1+D)²=1+D−D²−D³, and in an E^(n)PR4 detection scheme is (1−D)(1+D)^(n+1). D represents a one bit cell delay and D² represents 2 bit cell delays. D=e^(−jωt), where ω is a frequency variable in radians per second and t is the sampling time interval in seconds.

Each data sample in a PR4 detection scheme can have one of 3 possible values, −1, 0, 1, making N (the size of the matrix) equal to 3. Each data sample in a EPR4 detection scheme can have one of 5 possible values, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2 making N equal to 5, and in a EEPR4 detection scheme each data sample can have one of 7 possible values, −3, −2, −1, 0, 1, 2, 3 making N equal to 7. The 0s are encoded as a sequence of zeros of an appropriate length.

All possible sequences that can occur in a particular detection scheme are determined by generating a truth table of the possible combination of bits, encoding the bits, and convolving each entry. The number of bits for the combinations depends on the number of samples and length of each encoded bit. For a sequence having three data samples, 5 bits are used in a PR4 detection scheme to generate a sequence; in an EPR4 detection scheme 6 bits are used to generate a sequence; and in an EEPR4 detection scheme 7 bits are used to generate a sequence.

TABLE A Bit 1 Bit 2 Bit 3 Bit 4 Bit 5 Bit 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1

Table A shows all possible combination of bits for an EPR4 encoding scheme. Each of the entries in the Table A is encoded. One example of this is shown in Table B, using 12the entry of Table A, 001011, as the example.

TABLE B 1 0 0 1 0   1   1   ?   ?   ? D ? 0 0 1   0   1   1   ?   ? −D² ? ? 0 0 −1   0 −1 −1   ? −D³ ? ? ? 0   0 −1   0 −1 −1 Sum ? ? ? 1   0   1   ?   ?   ?

Therefore, the sequence 1, 0, 1 occurs in an EPR4 detection scheme and is one of the allowed sequences in the sequence table. Similarly, sequences that can occur in the EPR4 detection scheme are determined for each entry in Table A, thus creating the entire list of all possible sequences that can occur for the particular detection scheme. Appendix B shows all sequences that can occur in an EPR4 detection scheme. Sequence tables of sequences that can occur in other detection schemes can be similarly encoded using the equations for the detection scheme and a truth table with the appropriate number of bites, described above.

Each of the possible values of the data sample is assigned a value to be a coordinate in the sequence table; for example: −2 corresponds to 0, −1 corresponds to 1, 0 corresponds to 2, 1 corresponds to 3, 2 corresponds to 4. The sample information of the selected data sample is stored in the location corresponding to the allowed sequence. All other locations of the table contain flags.

In the preferred embodiment, the sample information is the slope of the data stream around the selected data sample. The slope around the data sample is calculated by determining the sign produced when the expected value of the preceding sample x(T−1) is subtracted from the expected value of the subsequent sample x(T+1). For example, for the sequence 1, 0, 1, the slope=sign(1−1)=0, and it is stored at location 3,2,3 of the sequence table. Storing the slope in the sequence table 32 reduces the size of the phase error estimator and increases the speed at which the phase error estimator operates since the slope is now provided to it from the sequence table and the phase error estimator does not need to determine the slope.

Appendix C shows the values of a sequence table for an EPR4 detection scheme. Appendix A shows a program in Matlab that can generate all the sequences that can occur in an EPR4 detection scheme (shown in FIG. B), and the sequence table for an EPR4 detection scheme (shown in FIG. C).

In an alternative embodiment of the invention not all sequences that can occur in the detection scheme are allowed sequences for correcting the timing, and the values in the sequence table at coordinates corresponding to some sequences that can occur in the detection scheme are set to flags. Some sequences that can occur in the detection scheme but are not allowed sequences because they are not helpful in detecting and determining the timing error of the sample. For example, the sequence 0, 0, 0 is not helpful in detecting a timing error, thus, while it can occur, it is not an allowed sequence.

As described above, the number of previous data samples and number of subsequent data samples can be any number that allows the data sequence to be large enough to accurately confirm that the data sample can occur in the detection scheme, yet small enough to not to drastically increase the latency in processing the data samples. The number of previous data samples can be larger or smaller than the number of subsequent data samples. For ease of reference an embodiment using a sequence having 3 data samples will be used to describe the operation of the invention.

In operation of this embodiment, a first data sample x′(T−1) is sampled by the slicer 20 and stored in the register 34, as the preceding sample. The selected data sample x′(T) is then sampled by the slicer 20 and stored in register 34, this is the data sample for which the timing error is being determined. Another data sample x′(T+1), the subsequent data sample, is sampled by the slicer 20 and stored in the register 34. The samples form the sequence. The coordinates corresponding to the sequence are determined in the comparison circuitry 30, and the value in the sequence table 32 at the coordinates corresponding to sequence is retrieved. The comparison circuitry 30 determines if the value is a flag. If the value is a flag, no correction is performed by the phase error estimator, this can be accomplished by passing a slope of zero to the phase error estimator 23. If the value is not a flag, the value stored in the sequence table 32 is passed to the phase error estimator 23 as the slope of the data stream around the selected data sample x′(T).

The phase error estimator 23 determines the timing error of the data sample by multiplying the slope by the sample error. The sample error of the data sample is obtained by subtracting the value of the data sample x′(T) from the expected value of the sample x(T). When the slope is zero, the timing error is zero. There is no correction, and the clock frequency of the oscillator 26 is not adjusted. In the embodiment of the invention where the slope is the sample information, the slope output by the comparison circuitry 30 is zero when the slope around the selected data sample x′(T) is actually zero, or when the sequence is not an allowed sequence and there is a flag in the sequence table at the coordinates corresponding the sequence.

For each new data sample, the data samples in the shift register 34 are shifted by one. The selected data sample x′(T), becomes the previous data sample x′(T−1). the subsequent data sample x′(T+1) becomes the selected data sample x′(T). The next data sample just received from the slicer 20 becomes the subsequent data sample x′(T+1). The above process is now repeated to obtain the timing error of the new data sample x′(T). This process is repeated for all the data samples in the data stream.

Optionally, override circuitry can be added to allow programming of the comparison circuitry 30 and sequence table 32 to program a sequence to not be an allowed sequence. The override circuitry can be any circuitry that either passes through the slope in the sequence table 32 or passes a zero. FIG. 3, shows one example of the override circuitry. Each override pass element 42 a . . . 42 n, has a programming input connected to the output of a control circuit 44, respectively, and an input connected to the sequence table. There is one override pass element 42 a . . . 42 n for each sequence. The control circuitry is programmed to indicate that some sequences that can occur in the detection scheme are not allowed. The pass elements 42 a . . . 42 n pass through the sample information or a zero based on the control circuit.

FIG. 4 shows a plot of the phase correction vs. the phase error. Using the present invention gives a wider range where the phase correction is of the same sign as the phase error. Having the phase correction of the same sign as the phase error reduces the phase error, a phase correction of the opposite sign as the phase error actually increases the phase error. This, in turn, increases the possibility that the phase correction of the next data sample will not be of the same sign as the phase error, throwing off the timing of the system further. The current invention produces a phase correction that has a lower standard deviation about the same phase error than the slicer does alone, or with the Viterbi detector. Thus, using the sequence table produces a more accurate phase correction.

Referring again to FIG. 2, in an alternative embodiment of the invention, the coordinates of the sequence table 32 are values assigned to the possible previous and subsequent data samples, and the value stored at those coordinates is an expected value x(T) of the selected data sample. In operation, a first data sample x′(T−1) is sampled by the slicer 20 and stored in the register 34, as the preceding sample. The selected data sample x′(T) is then sampled by the slicer 20 and stored in register 34, this is the data sample for which the timing error is being determined. Another data sample x′(T+1), the subsequent data sample, is sampled by the slicer 20 and stored in register 34.

The previous and subsequent samples x′(T−1) and x′(T+1) form the sequence. The coordinates corresponding to the sequence are determined in the comparison circuitry 30, and the value in the sequence table 32 at the coordinates corresponding to sequence is retrieved. The comparison circuitry 30 determines if the value is a flag. If the value is a flag a timing correction of zero is passed to the phase error estimator 22 and the clock frequency of oscillator 26 is not adjusted. If the value is not a flag, the comparison circuitry determines if the sequence is unique. If the sequence is unique the value in the sequence table 32 is used as the expected value x(T) of the data sample x′(T), otherwise the data sample is used to generate its expected value x(T).

The phase error estimator 23 determines the timing error of the data sample by multiplying the slope by the sample error. The sample error of the data sample is obtained by subtracting the value of the data sample x′(T) from the expected value of the sample x(T). The slope is determined in the phase error estimator 22 by subtracting the previous data sample x′(T−1) from the subsequent data sample x′(T+1). When the slope is zero, the timing error is zero and there is no correction; the clock frequency of the oscillator 26 is not adjusted.

The data samples in the register 34 are shifted by one. If the sequence is allowed and unique the value in the sequence table 32 is stored as the previous data sample x′(T−1), otherwise the selected data sample x′(T) becomes the previous data sample x′(T−1). The subsequent data sample x′(T+1) becomes the selected data sample x′(T), and the next data sample just received from the slicer 20 becomes the subsequent data sample x′(T+1). The above process is now repeated to obtain the timing error of the new selected data sample x′(T). This process is repeated for all the data samples in the data stream.

Using a sequence of data samples surrounding a data sample to determine if the data sample is read correctly, and only using correct data samples to determine timing errors, allows the timing error to be corrected only when accurate information is available. The sequence of data samples is compared using comparison circuitry to the allowed sequences stored in a sequence table. When the sequence is allowed, then there is high likelihood that data sample is correct, and the timing error for the data sample is determined and used to correct the timing error of the system. Otherwise, no correction is made for the timing error. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the coordinates of the sequence table correspond to the data samples, and the slope of the data stream at the data sample is stored in the sequence table. This reduces the size of the phase error estimator and increases the speed at which the phase error estimator operates since the slope is now provided to it from the sequence table and the phase error estimator does not need determine the slope.

Although the invention has been specifically described with reference to several preferred and alternative embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art having reference to the current specification and drawings that various modifications may be made and further alternatives are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

APPENDIX A % A program to generate a table of allowed 3 sample sequences % in EPR4 channel decoding (the same program can be used to % generate allowed an N sample sequences by changing some parameters clear all f=[ ]; same=0; % for EPR4 6 bits are will generate all the possible % allowed 3 sample sequences (although 5 bits can be used) % this is not a problem as long as you can sort equal sequences for x=0:63 a=dec2bin(x,6); b(x+1,:)=str2num(a(:))′; end % EPR4 ‘encoding’(1−D{circumflex over ( )}2)*(1+D) c=diff(b′); % (1−D) d=[1 2 1]; % impulse response (1+D){circumflex over ( )}2 for x=0:63 e(x+1,:)=conv(c(:,x+1)′,d); end % this portion is used to sort out all the possible allowed 3 sample sequences for x=0:63 for y=x+1:63 if ((~(abs(e(x+1,3)−e(y+1,3))+abs(e(x+1,4)−e(y+1,4))+abs(e(x+1,5)− e(y+1,5))))&(~(e(x+1,1)==−99))) e(y+1,1)=−99; end end if (~(e(x+1,1)==−99)) f=[f;e(x+1,3:5)]; % 3 sample sequence is recorded end end % allowed sequences are saved to file for x=1:length(f) fprintf(‘patent_matrix’,‘% d % d % d\n’,f(x,1),f(x,2),f(x,3)); end fprintf(‘patent_matrix’,‘\n’); % a 5x5x5 table is initialized to −99 (not allowed sequence) % in EPR4 a sample can assume any between the {−2,−1,0,+1,+2} values, % hence 125 possible combination are possible for a 3 sample sequence for x=1:5 for y=1:5 for j=1:5 g(x,y,j)=−99; end end end % only allowed sequences produce useful timing information (in this case % we choose slope information −1,0,+1). The rest of the table is left to −99 % that means NOT ALLOWED sequence. for x=1:length(f(:,1)) g(f(x,1)+3,f(x,2)+3,f(x,3)+3)=sign(f(x,3)−f(x,1)); end % table is saved to a file to be used to implement the hardware circuitry % NB in the table index 1 corresponds to −2 sample % 2 corresponds to −1 sample % 3 corresponds to 0 sample % 4 corresponds to +1 sample % 5 corresponds to +2 sample for x=1:5 for y=1:5 for j=1:5 fprintf(‘patent_matrix’,‘target[%d][%d][%d]=%d;\n′,x−1,y−1,j− 1,g(x,y,j)); end end end

APPENDIX B   0   0   0   0   0   1   0   1   1   0   1   2   1   1 −1   1   1   0   1   2   0   1   2   1   1 −1 −1   1 −1   0   1   0   0   1   0   1   2   0 −2   2   0 −1   2   1 −1   2   1   0 −1 −1   0 −1 −1   1 −1   0   1 −1   0   2   0   0 −1   0   1   0   0 −2 −1   0 −2   0   0 −1   0   0 −1   1   1 −1 −2   1   0 −1 −1   0   0 −1   1   1 −1   1   2   0   1 −1   0   2   0   0   2   1   0 −1 −1   1   0 −2 −2 −1   0 −2 −1   1 −2   0   1 −2   0   2 −1   0 −1 −1   1   0 −1 −2 −1 −1 −2   0   0 −1 −2

APPENDIX C target[0][0][0]=−99; target[0][0][1]=−99; target[0][0][2]=−99; target[0][0][3]=−99; target[0][0][4]=−99; target[0][1][0]=−99; target[0][1][1]=−99; target[0][1][2]=1; target[0][1][3]=1; target[0][1][4]=−99; target[0][2][0]=−99; target[0][2][1]=−99; target[0][2][2]=−99; target[0][2][3]=1; target[0][2][4]=1; target[0][3][0]=−99; target[0][3][1]=−99; target[0][3][2]=−99; target[0][3][3]=−99; target[0][3][4]=−99; target[0][4][0]=−99; target[0][4][1]=−99; target[0][4][2]=−99; target[0][4][3]=−99; target[0][4][4]=−99; target[1][0][0]=−99; target[1][0][1]=0; target[1][0][2]=1; target[1][0][3]=−99; target[1][0][4]=−99; target[1][1][0]=−99; target[1][1][1]=−99; target[1][1][2]=1; target[1][1][3]=1; target[2][4][1]=−99; target[2][4][2]=0; target[2][4][3]=1; target[2][4][4]=−99; target[3][0][0]=−99; target[3][0][1]=−99; target[3][0][2]=−99; target[3][0][3]=−99; target[3][0][4]=−99; target[3][1][0]=−1; target[3][1][1]=−1; target[3][1][2]=−1; target[3][1][3]=−99; target[3][1][4]=−99; target[3][2][0]=−1; target[3][2][1]=−1; target[3][2][2]=−1; target[3][2][3]=0; target[3][2][4]=−99; target[3][3][0]=−99; target[3][3][1]=−1; target[3][3][2]=−1; target[3][3][3]=−99; target[3][3][4]=−99; target[3][4][0]=−99; target[3][4][1]=−99; target[3][4][2]=−1; target[3][4][3]=0; target[3][4][4]=−99; target[4][0][0]=−99; target[4][0][1]=−99; target[4][0][2]=−99; target[4][0][3]=−99; target[4][0][4]=−99; target[4][1][0]=−99; target[4][1][1]=−99; target[4][1][2]=−99; target[4][1][3]=−99; target[4][1][4]=−99; target[4][2][0]=−1; target[4][2][1]=−1; target[4][2][2]=−99; target[4][2][3]=−99; target[4][2][4]=−99; target[4][3][0]=−99; target[4][3][1]=−1; target[4][3][2]=−1; target[4][3][3]=−99; target[4][3][4]=−99; target[4][4][0]=−99; target[4][4][1]=−99; target[4][4][2]=−99; target[4][4][3]=−99; target[4][4][4]=−99; 

1. A method for correcting a timing error of a detector, comprising: obtaining a plurality of data samples from a data stream that conforms to a predetermined target polynomial; storing a predetermined number of previous data samples before a selected data sample; storing a predetermined number of subsequent data samples after the selected data sample; forming a sequence comprising the stored data samples; determining whether the sequence is allowed by the target polynomial; and maintaining the timing error the same when the sequence is not allowed by the target polynomial.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sequence comprises the previous data samples, the data sample, and the subsequent data samples.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sequence comprises the previous data samples, and the subsequent data samples.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing the sequence with sequences in a sequence table having allowed sequences.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the allowed sequence comprise sequences that occur in a detection scheme of the detector.
 6. The method of claim 1, further comprising programming a sequence to be a not allowed sequence.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of storing the predetermined number of previous data samples is performed before the step of obtaining the selected data sample.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein the data samples substantially correspond to a PR4 target polynomial, and the predetermined number of previous data samples is one and the predetermined number of subsequent data samples is one.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the data samples substantially correspond to an EPR4 target polynomial, and the predetermined number of previous data samples is one and the predetermined number of subsequent data samples is one.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined number of previous data samples is two and the predetermined number of future data samples is three.
 11. The method of claim 1, further comprising correcting the timing error when the sequence is allowed by the target polynomial.
 12. The method of claim 1, further comprising correcting the timing error only if the sequence belongs to a predetermined group of fewer than all of the sequences that are allowed by the target polynomial.
 13. A method for correcting a timing error of a detector, comprising: obtaining a plurality of data samples from a data stream that conforms to a predetermined target polynomial; storing a predetermined number of previous data samples before a selected data sample; storing a predetermined number of subsequent data samples after the selected data sample; forming a sequence comprising the stored data samples; determining whether the sequence is allowed by the target polynomial; correcting the timing error when the sequence is allowed by the target polynomial; and maintaining the timing error the same when the sequence is not allowed by the target polynomial; and wherein correcting the timing error includes, determining a sample error, determining a slope of the data signal around the data sample, and multiplying the sample error and the slope of the data signal around the data sample to produce the timing error.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein: determining the sample error comprises subtracting the data sample from the expected value of the data sample; and determining the slope of the data signal around the data sample comprises obtaining the slope from a sequence table.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein determining the sample error comprises subtracting the data sample from the expected value of the data sample; and determining the slope of the data signal around the data sample comprises: obtaining a previous data sample; obtaining a subsequent data sample; and subtracting the previous data sample from the subsequent data sample.
 16. A method, comprising: determining whether a sequence of data samples from a data stream is allowed by a predetermined target polynomial and is one of a predetermined group of sequences; and correcting a phase error between a sample clock and a data sample in the sequence using information associated with the sequence if and only if the sequence is allowed by the target polynomial and is one of the predetermined group.
 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining the phase error before correcting the phase error.
 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising: wherein the sample clock has a phase; and maintaining the phase of the sample clock if the sequence is not one of the predetermined group of sequences.
 19. The method of claim 16 wherein correcting the phase error comprises correcting the phase error using one of the data samples from the sequence.
 20. The method of claim 16 wherein correcting the phase error comprises correcting the phase error using a difference between two of the data samples from the sequence.
 21. A method, comprising: generating a sequence of data samples by sampling a data signal that conforms to a predetermined target polynomial; determining whether information corresponding to the sequence of data samples is usable to correct a phase error between a sample clock and a data sample from the sequence, the data sample representing a portion of the data signal that is located between a pair of consecutive peaks of the data signal; correcting the phase error with the information if the information is determined to be usable; and wherein the information comprises an expected value of one of the data samples from the sequence, the expected value having been stored before sampling the data signal.
 22. A method, comprising: determining that a sequence of at least three data samples from a data stream that conforms to a predetermined target polynomial provides information usable to correct a phase error between a sample clock and a data sample from the sequence if the sequence is allowed by the target polynomial and is one of a predetermined group of sequences; and correcting the phase error using the provided information if the information is usable.
 23. The method of claim 22, further comprising: wherein the sample clock has a phase; and leaving the phase of the sample clock unchanged if the information is unusable.
 24. The method of claim 22, further comprising: generating the sequence of data samples by sampling a data stream; and wherein the sequence is one of the predetermined group of sequences if the sequence is allowed within the data stream.
 25. A method, comprising: determining whether a sequence of data samples provides information usable to correct a phase error between a sample clock and a data sample from the sequence; correcting the phase error using the provided information if the information is usable; calculating a first difference between the data sample and an expected value of the data sample; wherein the information comprises a second difference between two data samples from the sequence; and correcting the phase error comprises multiplying the first difference by the second difference.
 26. A method, comprising: determining whether a sequence of data samples provides information usable to correct a phase error between a sample clock and a data sample from the sequence; correcting the phase error using the provided information if the information is usable; calculating a first difference between the data sample and an expected value of the data sample; wherein the information comprises a second difference between a first data sample from the sequence that precedes the data sample and a second data sample from the sequence that proceeds the data sample; and wherein correcting the phase error comprises multiplying the first difference by the second difference.
 27. A method, comprising: generating a sequence of data samples by sampling a data signal that conforms to a predetermined target polynomial; determining whether the sequence of data samples provides information usable to correct a phase error between a sample clock and a data sample from the sequence, the data sample being of a portion of the data signal that is located between a pair of consecutive peaks of the data signal; correcting the phase error using the provided information if the information is usable; and wherein the information comprises the data sample from the sequence; and wherein correcting the phase error comprises calculating a difference between the data sample and an expected value of the data sample, the expected value having been stored before sampling the data signal.
 28. A method, comprising: generating a sequence of data samples by sampling a data signal that conforms to a predetermined target polynomial; determining whether the sequence of data samples provides information usable to correct a phase error between a sample clock and a data sample from the sequence, the data sample representing a portion of the data signal that is located between a pair of consecutive peaks of the data signal; correcting the phase error using the provided information if the information is usable; wherein the information comprises an expected value of the data sample from the sequence, the expected value having been stored before sampling the data signal; and wherein correcting the phase error comprises calculating a difference between the data sample and the expected value of the data sample. 